Practice Your Home Fire Escape Plan on Family Day
HAMILTON, ON – February 15, 2018 – The Hamilton Fire Department is urging families in Hamilton to practice their home fire escape plan as part of Family Day on Monday February 19th, 2018. If a fire occurred in your home tonight would your family get out safely?
“Most fatal fires occur at night when everyone is asleep, so that is why it is so important for everyone to know what to do when the smoke alarms sound,”
“Everyone should know what to do and where to go to get out safely.”
- Chief Fire Prevention Officer Robert Simpson
Simple steps for home fire escape planning include:
- Install smoke alarms on every storey and outside sleeping areas. It’s the law. For best protection, install smoke alarms in every bedroom.
- Test smoke alarms monthly by pressing the test button.
- Develop a home fire escape plan and discuss it with the entire family.
- Show everyone two ways out of each room, if possible.
- Check that all exits are unobstructed and easy to use.
- Determine who will be responsible for helping young children, older adults or anyone else that may need assistance.
- Choose a meeting place outside, such as a tree or a lamp post, where everyone can be accounted for.
- If caught in smoke, get low and go under the smoke to the nearest safe exit.
- Call the fire department from outside the home, from a cell phone or neighbour’s home.
- Once out, stay out. Never re-enter a burning building.
You may have only seconds to safely escape your home. Practice your home fire escape plan and make sure everyone can get out quickly. If you don’t have a home fire escape plan, take the time now to develop one.
For more information on fire safety, contact our Fire Prevention Division at 905 546-2424 ext. 1380, weekdays between 8:30am and 4:30pm or visit our web-site at www.hamilton.ca/fire.